My Action Research Plan

What are some concerns that teachers, students, and administrators may have with our current tardy policy, and what are some changes that can be made to that policy to alleviate those concerns?

¨ Goals and objectives/outcomes of the research investigation

My goal throughout this process is to determine if the current tardy policy on our campus is effective, and if changes can be made to improve the current policy. During my research, I will determine the number of students acquiring tardies, verify which class periods/departments are subject to the highest number of tardies, determine the amount of missed instruction time because of tardies, evaluate the effects that tardy students have on classroom instruction and organization, and acquire faculty concerns over the current policy.

¨ Activities designed to achieve the objectives

I will be using several different activities throughout this process. Collaborating teachers will be given tardy logs to keep track of late students, as well as a teacher journal to document how tardy students affect their classroom. Surveys will also be given to teachers, students and administrators to determine how the school perceives the current tardy policy, and possible changes that could be made to improve it.

¨ Resources and research tools needed for data gathering

Teacher tardy logs will be used in classes that will be sampled to obtain quantitative data on student tardies. This log will be individualized for each collaborating teacher, will include the teacher’s class roll, and will provide space for the teacher to keep specific records of tardy students. Teacher journals will also be used in classes that will be sampled to obtain qualitative data on student tardies. Collaborating teachers will make weekly journal entries documenting their observations on the tardy students effect on classroom instruction and organization.

¨ Draft timeline for completion or implementation of activities

One week prior to the start of the six week research period, an informational meeting will be held for all collaborating teachers. This meeting will discuss activities they will be involved in during the research period. Tardy logs will be turned in and analyzed weekly. Teacher journals, as well as surveys, will be turned in and analyzed at the conclusion of the six week research period, and determinations will be made on the possible necessity of additional research.

¨ Persons responsible for implementation of the action research plan

John McCleskey, assistant principal and site supervisor, Jayme Carr, and collaborating teachers will be responsible for the implementation of the action research plan.

¨ Benchmarks and assessments

Tardy logs will provide quantitative data concerning the number of tardies given, which period/departments are receiving the most tardies, and how much actual instructional time tardy students are missing. This will allow us to see if patterns are developing with certain students or particular times of the school day. Teacher journals will provide qualitative data in regards to the effects tardy students have on classroom instruction and organization, and a deeper understanding of how tardies are affecting the classroom environment.

¨ Process for monitoring the achievement of goals and objectives

During the six week research period, I will retrieve, examine, and analyze tardy logs weekly. At the end of the research period, I will analyze teacher journals and surveys. This information will help determine possible improvements for the campus tardy policy.